Chapter 143: The Real and Fake Liu Yi – The Black-Haired Man in Place of the White-Haired One

“Hey! Brother, what are you talking about?” Lan Bian’s expression seemed odd, and the stubborn girl also appeared somewhat embarrassed.
Lan Ying gave a sinister smile and said, “Sister, listen to your brother. To love someone, courage is also needed.” With that, he turned and walked toward Jillian and the others.
Although Lan Bian felt embarrassed, Lan Ying’s words seemed to hold deeper meaning. Perhaps her brother had truly mustered great courage to love Jillian, staying away from the Netherworld for ten years just for that mortal love, for his attachment to the mortal world.
Without overthinking it, Lan Bian followed Lan Ying to the middle of the flower sea, where they gathered again.
Li Ling looked at Lan Ying and said, “Brother Liu, it’s been so long—how are you?”
Earlier, Li Ling had kept asking how Liu Yi ended up here. Now, he was extremely puzzled. Above Fengdu Ghost City, Lan Bian had clearly said that Liu Yi was the lord of the Demon Realm. So why was Liu Yi here in the flower sea? Could it be… that Liu Yi had disappeared to live in seclusion?
But Li Ling quickly dismissed this idea. Jillian said that this Liu Yi had been by her side for ten years. Could the lord of the Demon Realm have a clone? Impossible. That Liu Yi had white hair, while the one before him had black hair. Moreover, Lan Ying had just called him brother. So… wasn’t he the real Liu Yi?
Lan Ying smiled and said, “Brother Ling, it’s been a long time—ten years indeed.” He lied calmly, as if it were true, his expression remaining unchanged.
At that moment, Tian Jiao said, “You’re not Liu Yi. The real Liu Yi has long disappeared. Who are you really?”
Jillian was the first to be shocked. Why was this girl who looked like her saying she wasn’t Liu Yi? But who else could it be if not Liu Yi? Over the past ten years, she had received meticulous care, extra protection, and love from him. Strangely, Liu Yi’s appearance hadn’t changed, and he always told her it was because he had consumed the inner core of the thousand-year fox, which had now merged with him.
Jillian naturally believed him, as Nalan had shared many things with her while saving her life… including what an inner core was.
Lan Bian regretted telling them that Liu Yi was the lord of the Demon Realm and that the man before them was her brother. It seemed their secret was about to be exposed.
Just as Lan Bian tried to find an explanation, Jillian spoke up to Tian Jiao, “Then who are you? Why do you say my husband isn’t Liu Yi?”
Tian Jiao was about to say, “I’m your sister.” But at the last moment, she stopped herself, knowing Jillian wouldn’t believe it. Her memories from three lifetimes hadn’t been unlocked yet—how could she know about such a sister?
Before Tian Jiao could answer, Lan Ying gently pulled Jillian into his arms and said to Tian Jiao, “This young lady, I think you’ve mistaken me. I am indeed Liu Yi.”

Tianjiao was truly anxious now. She clearly knew the truth, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak it. The person before her still had Liu Yi’s appearance, while that white-haired Liu Yi, consumed by hatred over ten years of longing for Jili’er, had aged greatly. Even if the white-haired Liu Yi appeared before them, who would Jili’er believe? It went without saying.

But Li Ling wasn’t as impatient as Tianjiao. Glancing at the expressionless Liu Yi, he said, “Brother Liu, don’t be offended. Miss Tianjiao acted on impulse and mistook you for someone else.”

Lan Ying smiled gracefully and said, “Those who know nothing are innocent. What reason do I have to blame Miss Tianjiao? Besides, both of you are guests of my distant cousin. I’m very pleased. I’ve lived in Lotus Town for over ten years, and it’s truly delightful to have guests today.” Lan Ying deliberately emphasized the words “distant cousin”…

Although Jili’er had never followed Liu Yi to the south of the Yangtze River, she had also never heard him mention having any sisters. Those words were an unintentional explanation to Jili’er.

Li Ling also smiled slightly and said, “Brother Liu, you’re too polite.”

Lan Ying turned to Jili’er and said, “Jili, there are guests today. Go back and prepare some food first. I’ll accompany these guests to see the scenery around here.”

Jili’er smiled slightly and nodded. “Okay. I’ll be back later. I want to prepare more delicious food to entertain your sister.” With that, she turned and headed toward Lotus Town.

It was obvious that Lan Ying was deliberately sending Jili’er away…

Watching Jili’er walk away, Li Ling smiled slightly and said, “I guess you must be the emperor of the netherworld.”

Lan Ying laughed boldly at that moment. In the blink of an eye, his scholarly demeanor vanished, replaced by supreme dominance, as if that laugh could determine anyone’s life or death.

Stopping his smile, Lan Ying said, “My sister really didn’t mistake anyone. Brother Ling is calm and composed. Since it’s clear that explanations are futile, there’s no need to explain. Even if Liu Yi appeared here, who do you think… Jili’er would believe?” At this point, Lan Ying had already denied being Liu Yi with just one sentence.

Li Ling wasn’t quite sure about Lan Ying’s first sentence, but soon he was distracted by another question. “You’re indeed straightforward. But right now, Ling still doesn’t know your name.”

Lan Ying looked at Li Ling and smiled eerily. “I’m Lan Ying. My sister likes to be mischievous. These days, she’s had your care.” Both were smiles, but Li Ling’s gave a sense of warmth, while Lan Ying’s made one feel gloomy.

Li Ling didn’t smile this time. He continued, “I wonder until when Brother Lan plans to deceive Jili’er. Don’t you think this is cruel to her? Unfair to Liu Yi?”

Lan Ying’s expression changed instantly. The smiling face was gone, replaced by an eerie, indescribably terrifying look. As his expression turned terrifying, dark demonic energy rapidly gathered in the sky, and wind blew. Under that hurricane, white petals flew everywhere…

Blue Shadow suddenly stretched out his right hand and pointed at Li Ling, saying, “Shut up! Do you think you’re qualified to judge someone’s love? What do you think is cruel or unfair? Can’t you see that Gilliel is smiling now? Even if I’m deceiving her now, it’s out of good intentions. Do you really want to see a good girl cry for that dead man for ten years? I also have the right to love. Why is it cruel for me to love? Is that fair to me?”
At that moment, Tianjiao suddenly shouted, “No, he’s not dead. He just doesn’t know that Gilliel is still alive.”
Blue Shadow’s eyes blazed red, but that glow vanished as soon as he saw Tianjiao. That face was so familiar that it made Blue Shadow forget all his troubles in an instant; even the demonic energy in the sky diminished significantly.
But soon, Blue Shadow turned his head back and said, “Ling, show me your strength. What right do you have to interfere in others’ love?” With that, he thrust his right hand into the sky. A white lightning bolt struck his hand instantly, and soon after, a long sword with a bronze handle—about four feet long, five inches wide, and seven tenths thick—appeared in his hand. The blade emitted a black glow, yet it appeared extremely dazzling and mysterious…